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Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai Review & Complete Guide
Seiko makes some of the best affordable automatic watches in the world. Bold statement? Perhaps, but looking at the price and then carefully examining what you get for only a few hundred dollars, it becomes very evident that they offer great value for money.
If you are looking for an affordable sporty, robust dive watch with a unique design and a durable and proven automatic movement at around 400 USD, the Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai may be one of the best alternatives on the market.
This is exactly the watch we are going to review and go in-depth about in this article.
Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai Review
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The SRPB99J1 is part of Seiko’s Prospex collection which means ”Professional Specifications”. What does this mean? In Seiko’s own words, the Prospex
”challenges every limit, with a collection of timepieces for sports lovers and adventure seekers whether in the water, in the sky or on land. Seiko’s innovative technology has changed global standards. We are constantly striving to bring ever greater reliability and safety to both professional and recreational divers.”
With that said, when you buy a Seiko Prospex watch, you get a timepiece that is made according to professional standards in terms of quality and long-lasting durability. This is of course the exact characteristics you are looking for in a sports dive watch.
Furthermore, the Seiko SRPB99J1 is a ”Samurai”, which is named after its hands which have the appearance of a samurai sword. Apart from this, the Samurai has a very distinct case shape and design, which we will go more into detail about further on.
Oh, and lastly, the Seiko Prospex Samurai SRPB99J1 is a ”Padi”. This can be seen in the PADI printing on the dial. PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors, which is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization. Seiko has had a long and successful relationship, and it was to celebrate this relationship that Seiko released the Prospex PADI Samurai 200M Automatic Black reference SRPB99J1. All Seiko and Padi watch collaborations can apart from the logo be identified via their use of blue and red colors.
After all, is there a better testament to a dive watch’s performance than that it is being used by professional divers?
As you can see, there are a lot of things to think about when it comes to this watch, but all of these things come together and create a watch that has proven to be immensely successful.
The SRPB99J1 was released in early 2018 and has proven to be a great success. Let’s look closer at what makes this watch so special.
Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai case
The case of this watch has the iconic Samurai shape and design. What particularly makes this case stand out is the sharply angled lugs that point down towards the wrist.
The case of the SRPB99J1 measures 43.8mm without the crown. It has a lug width of 22mm and a lug-to-lug of 47.5mm. It has a thickness of 13mm. All of these dimensions make the SRPB99J1 large on paper – and it is – but it’s not as bulky as these dimensions may give the impression. Much thanks to the design of the lugs.
But bear in mind that this is a professional sport, dive, and tool-watch, and therefore being bulky and large is a part of its identity and ethos.
Since this is, after all, a professional dive watch, it offers a water resistance of 200 meters. This makes this watch suitable for both swimming and diving.
The case combines satin-brushed parts with polished elements that enhance its exclusivity and gives the impression of a well-finished watch. At the same time, the brushed parts also ensure the watch keeps its sporty look. Turning the watch around, this watch has a screw-down closed case back. At first thought, it is a shame it doesn’t have a see-through case back which allows you to see the movement inside, but at the same time, this is a dive watch, and it’s all about performance.
The case has lug holes which makes it much easier to change straps and remove the bracelet which is a nice addition as more manufacturers tend to move away from them.
The watch has a screw-down crown positioned at 3 o’clock on the side of the case. The crown has knurling on it which allows for an easy grip. The crown is protected by nicely incorporated crown guards.
Being a dive watch, it of course has a unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel sits tall and allows for easy grip, also thanks to its knurling similar to the crown. The bezel rotates into 120 positions and is easy to operate. The bezel has a matte aluminum bezel with a lime pop at 12 o’clock. The First 15 minutes are painted red and the rest o the bezel is painted blue, with silver markers.
Fitted on top of the case is Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal. At this price point, we can’t expect a sapphire crystal, but the Hardlex has still proven to be more durable and resistant to scratches than standard mineral crystals.
Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai movement
The Seiko SRPB99J1 is equipped with the Seiko calibre 4R35. This movement was introduced in 2011 and replaced the 7S family. The new movement had improved technical specifications, and by now, it is a tried and true reliable and durable movement.
This updated movement features two important technical improvements (amongst others), and these include a hacking function and a manual winding function. The movement has a power reserve of 41 hours and 24 jewels. It beats at a rate of 21,600vph/BPH (3Hz According to Seiko, it has an accuracy of -35/+45 seconds per day, but owners have reported much better performance than that.
Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai dial
The dial is particularly what makes this watch so special. The engraved wave pattern stands out clearly and is a sight to behold. The dial is made in a matte black color, and the rich texture and pattern ensure you will never get bored of it thanks to the great depth it provides. What is also interesting about this pattern is that from a distance, the dial looks almost only black, but the closer you get, the more evident the wave pattern becomes.
The dial of this watch features a chapter ring on which second markers are printed. On the position of each quarter, we have a red marker printing which goes well together with the other red accents and details.
At 3 o’clock, we have a date indicator with white background and black printing.
As you can expect, you can find the PADI logo printed right beneath the center of the hands. At 12 o’clock, we have the Seiko logo and right beneath it the Prospex logo. It also has printing indicating the depth rating and that it is an automatic watch.
The watch has a black coated minute and seconds hand which are then painted with red color. These red details go very together with the rest of the red accents. It has a broad arrow-shaped hour hand which is made of brushed steel. The hands all feature Lumibrite luminous material which glows strongly in the dark. The dial also has large applied hour markers which also have a generous amount of Lumibrite.
All markers and hands have blue luminescence except for the minute hand which glows green.
Seiko SRPB99J1 bracelet
The watch comes fitted on a robust and sporty stainless steel bracelet with a three-fold clasp with a secure lock and push-button release featuring a diver’s extension.
At this price, we can not expect a perfectly crafted bracelet, but it does the job well and has good quality in relation t the price. Bear in mind that it is usually the bracelet that is compromised with.
The good news is that if you want, you can easily switch to a NATO strap, which a lot of owners do. This both looks great but also helps make the watch wear less bulky.
Conclusion
The Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai is a sporty dive watch that offers great value for money.
If you are looking for a sporty and durable dive watch that has its unique and beautiful design, the SRPB99J1 is definitely a great candidate.
Seiko SRPB99J1 specifications
- Movement: Caliber 4R35
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Accuracy: -35/+45 sec per day
- Bezel: Unidirectional with 120 clicks
- Lug width: 22mm
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water resistance: 200m
- Diameter: 43.8mm
- Thickness: 13mm
- Lug-to-lug: 47.5mm
The Seiko SRPB99J1 Prospex Samurai is available to order on Amazon.
